Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 34, Number 334, 9 October 1909 — Page 6

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THE Lions' Den, the Gaylords comfortable house-boat, was so named because of Daniel; not the original Daniel of biblical days, but another interprcter-of -dreams who seemed on occasion even more startlingly original than his better known prototype. Naturally, for the sake of euphony, the house-boat, of which Daniel was so much a part, could bear no more fitting name, although the well-bred Gaylords were anything but lion-like. During the summer months, the Den, tethered to a scarlet buoy, floated with lamb-Gke meekness on Lake Michigamme, seventy miles by rail from the Gaylords' home in Bayville. The clumsy, comfortable craft, lumberscow underneath, a series of box-like bins on top, possessed no power of locomotion in its own right, but submitted tamely to being towed about by a hired steamtug, whenever the pleasure-loving Gaylords grew tired of their anchorage. Of the Gaylords, there were four; Archibald, aged thirty-five, his wife Elisabeth, Dicky, their four-year-old son and "Toots," their daughter, precariously surviving her second summer. , In addition, the Den sheltered Rhea, Mrs. Gaylord's exceedingly pretty sister, Daniel,

of whom there is more to tell, and Regina Qumn, an

antagonistic elderly damsel wno anenaeo auiy 10 mc inner wants of the Gaylords. Then, later in the season, there was a guest named Philip Marston. Although Daniel had lived for nineteen years it would be a mistake to say that he was nineteen years of age. Sometimes he seemed not more than nine and young for his age at that ; at other times, so great was his wisdom and prudence, his foresight and his intelligence, .that it seemed as if he must be at least ninety. He, with a certain broad-bottomed boat, was the connecting link between the Den and dry land. For the rest, his duties consisted of making himself generally useful, and Daniel did his duty with untiring zeal. In person, he was not prepossessing, being lathe-like in build and over-long for his width; his mouth and ears were over-large, his stiff, orange-hued hair overabundant, his freckles over-sized and over-numerous, and his hands, his feet and his big, over-tender heart had somehow out-distanced all the rest of him. For two years Daniel had belonged body and soul to the Gaylords. He would have died cheerfully for any one of them, from big, genial Archibald down to tiny "Toots." "If we needed Daniel for dinner," Elisabeth would say, " I believe he'd gladly permit Regina to cook him.

Daniel's a perfect synonym for the word devotion. He gives himself as the clouds give rain. There can't be room in him for anything further in the way of affection we have every bit of him." Mrs. Gaylord, however, was mistaken. Daniel still retained a generous portion of his large, tender heart; but not for long. When Mrs. Gaylord's sister, Rhea Prescott, arrived in May to Spend a long, restful summer in the Lions' Den, after a Washington winter, Daniel showed the Gaylords what devotion, what utter abnegation of self really meant Stronger, more closely guarded citadels than Daniel's .simple heart had gone down flat before the battery of Rhea's big, dark eyes ; but certainly none had ever succumbed quite so expeditiously. At sight of the decidedly attractive young woman, Daniel had surrendered all that he had to surrender with an instantaneous completeness that astonished even experienced Rhea. All her other admirers, however, had sooner or later desired reciprocity. Daniel aspired to nothing. It was bliss enough to be permitted to gaze, to worship, and to serve ; and never before had worshipper offered such disinterested homage. It seemed, this time, that Daniel must have exhausted his capacity for devotion; but again the Gaylords were mistaken. In July, Philip Marston, a cousin of Archibald's, arrived by invitation to spend three weeks aboard the Lions' Den. Had Daniel been an ordinary worshipper at Rhea's shrine, it is probable that Marston's advent would have filled him with as many forebodings as its announcement did Mrs. Gaylord ; but as Daniel was not an ordinary devotee he welcomed the newcomer as joyously as did Dicky, which is saying a great deal. " But, Archie," demurred Elisabeth, when Gaylord had mentioned casually that he had invite'd Philip to join their family party, "will he fit in? You know the Den isn't very big, and in such close quarters we have to be pretty chummy. If he shouldn't find us congenial, or if he dislikes children -" "You needn't be afraid of Phil's not fitting in," assured Gaylord. " He'd fit any place. His adaptability is imazing. In ten minutes you won't be able to believe that you haven't known him always you'll think he's your ego from some former state of existence. I've yet to hear of the man, woman or child that doesn't adore him. Why, my dear, he's simply the most pleasing mortal that ever happened." " But," inquired Elisabeth, " is it safe to have anybody as fascinating as all that? There's Rhea " "No danger whatever. Rhea's anything but susceptible. She's too accustomed to attention to attach any importance to a few extra blandishments; Phil, too, is invulnerable. We couldn't chaperone a safer pair. Besides, t if he and Rhea did but pshaw! They're too much "alike. Then there's Barr " " There's nothing in that Absence, in Rhea's case, is always fatal, you know. She does forget the poor things so speedily. Besides, she refused him." It was Daniel's duty to pilot all guests from the train to the Den; and, as Gaylord said whimsically, in three years he had not lost or mislaid a single guest. He did the honors nobly in Marston's case. " Get into this here boat," said Daniel, when he had steered Philip from the little station, down a wavering sawdust road to the water's edge, where the boat was beached. "I'm to row you out to the Den. It's anchored about six miles from here, but the lake's some , scolloped along the edge, so yon can't see her till you've ent quite a bit"

Marston looked pleasantly into the childlike hazel eyes level with his own darker ones, and smiled a kind, halfpitying smile; for Daniel's countenance was an open book, and Philip had read it at a glance. But Daniel, too, was quick at reading countenances. It was Marston's exceedingly pleasing habit to smile with his twinkling, appreciative eyes rather than with his lips; but it was said that his smile, because of its almost irresistible attractiveness, would at any time win for him the lifelong frendship of any but the most hardened of mankind. There was certainly nothing adamantine about Daniel. That susceptible youth promptly bestowed all there was left of his ardent young affections upon Marston, and they were not misplaced. To Daniel, Marston was a revelation. He had not suspected the world of containing a mortal so favored in every way; certainly in his own limited sphere there was nothing to compare with him for strength, manliness and beauty. Even finelooking, college-bred Gaylord, who, in Daniel's opinion, had hitherto held first place as a type of manly beauty and general excellence, was completely eclipsed. By the time the boat reached the Den, there was nothing that Daniel would have refused to do for Marston. He longed, indeed, for things to do. No college girl was ever afflicted with a more sudden or a more complete " crush " than was poor Daniel. And in his case there were complications, for this surprising new love had in nowise displaced his adoration for Rhea ; in truth, he adored them both, and in equal degree. It was late in the afternoon when Daniel and the guest stepped aboard the Lions' Den. As Gaylord had predicted, Elisabeth liked Philip at sight. Dickey, always

demonstrative, outdid his usual best in the way of rapturous greetings, and " Toots," who usually went into spasms at the first glimpse of tall, dark strangers, promptly held out both arms to this one, and afterwards beamed approval from the height of his broad shoulder. "Of course I like him," said Rhea, when Elisabeth asked. "He's splendidly proportioned, his features are fine, his manners pleasing, and his smile Well! I don't wonder that everybody likes him I can't imagine anybody being able to help it." " I can," sniffed raw-boned Regina, unexpectedly looking up from her pie-crust. " I could never abide a dark man without whiskers. I can't abide any man, for that matter, but one without whiskers is a crime. Besides, it ain't right for men to be soood lookin'. If there ain't looks enough to go round, the Lord ought to give what there is to the women." " And some women," said rather plain Elisabeth, looking after Rhea, who had started deckward, "certainly get more than their share." "Yes," snapped privileged Regina, outwardly antagonistic to everybody and everything, but inwardly almost as tender-hearted as Daniel. " And when they are handsome they generally knows it. I'm thankful that was left plain and unconceited there ain't a mite of conceit about me." "Yet," murmured Elisabeth, wickedly, "you make a fair apple pie." "Fair!" blazed Regina. "A fair apple pie! Well! If there's anybody on this continent ' that can make a better, I'd like to eat it ! " For three weeks the Gaylords and their guests, still adored by Daniel, fished and frolicked ; and, in spite of Regina's excellent pies, lived a wholesome, happy, sensible outdoor life. The Den happened to be anchored perhaps a hundred feet from a small green island; at greater distances were other more or less green isles. Then, barely a mile away, was the uninhabited mainland. Often, rowed by Daniel and provisioned by Regina, the little party spent long, happy days on one or another of these neglected beauty spots. The more industrious gathered berries, Rhea made a pretense of sketching, and Philip, always with Dicky at his heels and Daniel at his elbow, divided his attention equally between Rhea and Elisabeth. They had their end of the lake practically to themselves. Nothing called the lake's larger craft to their portion of the water, and smaller boats found equally attractive spots within easier reach. Indeed, the seclusion of the Gaylords' favorite outing place was its chief charm. For twenty-one days they picnicked uneventfully, Daniel tearing himself away twice a week to go to town for mail and necessary provisions. Then, early one morning, when the inmates of the Den were still in their tiny rooms, something happened ; something so unusual, so alarming, that all plans were promptly abandoned. Toots, who had tossed uneasily all night, was found to have unexpectedly broken out with a truly terrifying eruption. Elisabeth, whose infants had thus far escaped all contagious ills that infant flesh is heir to, turned pale at the discovery; for close upon its heels came a most alarming thought. The Gaylords had picnicked two days previously on the site of an abandoned lumber c.amp; Toots had taken her mid-day nap near logs that had once been part of a logger's cabin. "Oh!" groaned terrified Elisabeth, "it may be measles or scarlet fever! It may even be smallpox! That whole lumber camp may have died of it ! Archie ! Do look, great red spots all down her back. Oh, don't come so close you may catch it ! " "By jinks!" exclaimed Gaylord, inspecting his squirming daughter, "she's certainly badly broken out with something! Isn't it a good sign when they break out so thoroughly? Perhaps Rhea or Regina may know what it is never saw a case of any infantile disease in my life." But neither Rhea nor Regina had had any experience

with ailing childhood, and neither could diagnose the case. Regina, however, was a person of ideas. "Them there spots," said she, involuntarily backing toward the door, "look just like a boy I seen with chickenpox; smallpox looks just the same, they say." " The thing to do," said Archibald, decisively, " is to take that baby straight home to Dr. Smith before she gets any worse. Leave the others right here with Recina. If th rase isn't serious, and if everything's all

right at the office I ought to run down for a day, anyway I'll come back to-night. Have Rhea watch Dicky. If he comes down, too, she can follow us; if he hasn't been exposed, it's just as well not to let him run the risk." "That's true," quavered Elisabeth, hastily stuffing things into a valise. "Tell Daniel to be ready to row us across; we'll take the nine-thirty train." About one o'clock, leisurely, long-armed Daniel returned from the village with letters and provisions for the Lions' Den for the lions, Philip said. When Daniel had meekly received Regina's upbraidings for his tardiness and had eaten the generous meal she had kept hot for him she was ever all bark and no bite he curled up on the lower deck, closed his big, infantile eyes, and fell asleep. On the upper deck, just nine feet above the slumbering youth, sat Rhea and Marston, reading their mail, while Dicky, still immune from disfiguring eruption, but tied for safe keeping by a long, tout clothes-line, gambolled about noisily. Presently one of Dicky's whoops, louder than its predecessor, roused Daniel; and the lad, still only half awake, sat up and yawned prodigiously but silently. Then, solely because he so dearly loved the two voices murmuring just above his head, and not because of any deliberate . f A- i i ; j . .1.. :

intention of listening, he began inadvertently to take in words that were certainly not intended for his big, sunburned ears. He could easily hear them, for both voices were distinct and the summer day was calm and clear. " I've had bad news," Philip was saying regretfully. "The firm has recalled me. I hate to go, but I shall have to leave here to-morrow morning. It's really imperative. I should have gone to-day this letter has been delayed." " But you can't go you promised to stay for a whole month," protested dismayed Rhea. " Besides, no rca-

" I'm afraid," said Philip, who had possessed himself of one of Rhea's hands, " that I was ready to give you all had to give in very much less time than that I could have told you this a week aso." ' I wish you had," returned Rhea, fervently. " A week would have made all the difference in the world. Then then I might have had a chance to to find out to think of you as well, in that light. If Oh! Couldn't you stay just one little week longer?" " Rhea, I'd give half my life to do it, but it's impossible. I've never broken a promise in my life. 1 gave my word that I'd return the instant brooks sent (or me; and I can't in honor go back on that word. You see there are business interests of Brooks' involved. If it were any affair of my own it might go to thunder 1 Dear, I'd give my soul to stay you mustn't doubt that. And, Rhea, I don't want you to decide this moment. I couldn't expect that. Think about it until morning." "That isn't half time enough," protested Rhea. "It always takes me a long, long time to make up my mind about anything and when it's so serious a thing as this Oh. I shan't be a bit more certain by morning. And when people go away I forget them, and and that's the end of it, always. I wish I do wish you might stay." " And I wish it with all my soul ; but I can't do it. Unless some miracle happens, 1 shall have to go in the morning." At this juncture, Dicky created a diversion; Daniel, fearing discovery, seized this opportunity to slip away. Then, seated in the gangway and plunged in deep thought, the lad gazed with unseeing eyes down into the green water, where he hoped to find the miracle. During all the days of his life, Daniel had done his poor best for any friend he had happened to possess. hen sacrifices had been needed Daniel had made them gladly. When a helping hand was required, Daniel's big, loosely constructed palm was promptly extended. When aid was wanted, Daniel's shoulder had gone willingly to the wheel. Was it possible, he wondered, that there was

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" ENGAGED!" ECHOED ELISABETH, " SINCE WHEN, I'D LIKE TO KNOW?"

sonable firm would expect anybody to leave a heavenly spot like this for an old stuffy city office." ' It is a heavenly spot," returned Philip, with a fervor in his voice that was new and decidedly surprising to Daniel. " But but, dear girl, it is because you are in it! You'd make heaven of any spot for me." " Oh ! " gasped Rhea, likewise moved by the hitherto unsuspected depth of feeling revealed by Marston's earnest voice. "I'm sure it's lovely enough without me. This beautiful lake, this " " Rhea." pursued Marston, refusing to be turned aside ; " I've known you only three weeks ; it would be presumptuous to hope that I've won more than your friendship in so short a time; but I can't go without telling you what these wonderful days of close companionship have brought to me. It is perilously soon to speak of it but I leave you so soon, and I may not find another opportunity. What can I do but speak? I've learned to love you to love you." "Oh!" gasped Rhea, a second time. There was, of course, no way for listening Daniel to discover how this sudden', passionate appeal was affecting the lady. For Daniel, however, it was entirely too moving. The thrilling intensity of Marston's deeply earnest voice, far more affecting than the words themselves, brought-sympathetic tears to Daniel's young eyes and a lnmp to his boyish throat; but knowing nothing of this, Philip continued. " I love you I love you," pleaded the deep, passionate voice. " Don't tell me that I am to lose you utterly tomorrow. Rhea, look at me let me see your eyes. I didn't know I never dreamed that I should care so much Oh, so much, Rhea for anybody. Tell me, dear, that you care just a little but no! Just a little is not enough. I'm not the man to be satisfied with just a little. I want all you have to give your whole heart, my girL I've given you all mine, and I'm glad, glad I had a whole one to give." There was a long silence. Her letters slipped unheeded from Rhea's lap to flutter gently into the lake. Daniel with difficulty repressed a sob -and a desire to rescue Rhea's drifting correspondence, "I like you, Philip," said Rhea, after a long interval of silence (her voice, too, was more sweetly serious and more deeply moving than Daniel had previously known it), "I like you thoroughly, just as everybody else does. But how am" I to know how am I to tell if I love you? If liking were all " "If it were?" encouraged Philip, tenderly. "But it isn't," returned Rhea, with convincing seriousness. " You are asking me to give you my whole life every minute of it for as long as I may live to give all this at a moment's notice to a man I've known only three weeks 1" COfYKlGHT, X90S

any way for him to help the two distressed lovers to the extra week that both so evidently desired? Daniel thought that there might be if he could only find it; but his was a slow-moving mind, and the problem was not an easv one to solve. Yet at last, after hours of serious thoucht, Daniel saw light It was then five o'clock. " Think you folks'll be needin' the boat any more tonight ? " asked DanicL "Aren't you going to meet Mr. Gaylord? returned Rhea, whose lovely countenance wore a troubled expression, quite foreign to its usual unperturbed aspect. "Sure!" replied DanieL " But if there's anything else you're wanting from town. Miss Rhea, maybe I'd better be getting it If it should rain now- " " There's nothing needed, Daniel ; it certainly doesn't look like rain " " No'm." said Daniel, shoving off, " but on these here helpless house-boats, with no bilers ner nothin', it's just as well to be ready for accidents." " So I've discovered," agreed Philip, his eyes on Rhea's. At half-past nine, Rhea still sat with Philip on the star-lit deck. Indefatigable Regina, in the circumscribed disk of light cast by the companion-way lamp, sat knitting. Dicky, still unbroken-out, had retired. Through the silence came the sound of dripping oars ; presently a boat bumped softly against the Lions Den, and Daniel, laden with parcels, clambered aboard. " My Und ! " exclaimed Regina. " Didn't I tell you I didn't need a solitary thing? What've you been gettin now?" "Nothin much,' mumbled Daniel, dropping two heavy baskets and creeping back for more. " Didn't Mr. Gaylord come with you, Daniel ? " called Rhea. "No. ma'am." returned Daniel, springing up the ladder with the alacrity that Rhea always inspired. " But mavbe this telegram's from him." "It is" said Rhea, reading it by the light of Philip's flickering match. " He says : ' Toots doing nicely. Unavoidably detained by business.' Then, cf course, he cant get back until to-morrow. Thank you, Daniel." "Would you mind scratching one more match?" asked Daniel, huskily. "I I was lookin' fer somethin " "Not at alV returned Marston, kindly. "How's that, my boy?" Fine," gulped Daniel ; but the object he sought must have been in one of the two illuminated countenances that leaped from the darkness, for his eyes swept them both, eagerlv, searchingly. "I think," murmured Philip, when the odd. ungainly lad had turned away, "that Daniel merely wanted to lock at you I don't blame him."

- Xo. it was you he wanted to admire, asserted Rhea. "He thinks you're the most wonderful thing that ever happened." .... . An hour later. Rhea descended to the tiny room sh shared with Dicky. Regina likewise sought the lower regions. Marston smoked for another half hour, and then retired to his comfortable quarters in the upper cabin. . Just at midnight, when all the other inmates of thj Den were slumbering soundly. Daniel, divested of all clothing save his swimming tights, crept aft to wherw the boat was tethered. Silently he boarded her. softly he paddled away into the night, toward the spot where the nearest green island loomed darkly. On the further side of this small affair he landed, beached his boat in the tiny, half -concealed cove, and fastened the ropetc the one tree the place afforded. Then Daniel, quaking with dread, crossed the island to the point nearest the Den. . . Shuddcrin, Daniel, who was anything but n amphibious animal, gazed longingly toward the houseboat's twinkling lantern. To a moderately expert swimmer the distance would have seemed a mere trifle; but to Daniel, who instinctively hated and feared all cold deep waters, and whose natatorial accomplishments were rudimcntarv to the last degree, the breach between the island and the Den seemed ocean-wide. But Daniel wa of the stuff from which martyrs are made " A week," he whispered to his shrinking soul. ItTI give em a whole week. I'd orter be glad of a chance to drown for her an him. I am glad. But the Lord there ain't no bottom to this here lake in spots, an I m scared clean through. I'm scared I'm scared. O Lord!" Then there was a sudden determined splash, and the rock on which Daniel had wavered was vacant; while Daniel, battlins with terror because a thousand invisible hands seemed to clutch and drag him down, down to horrible, interminable depths, floundered helplessly under tons of black, suffocating water. " How he finally managed to reach the Den. Daniel never knew ; but some twenty minutes or twenty years. afterwaHs. a lean, dripping figure dragged its long, weary length aboard the Lions' Den. and creeping forward to the spot known as "Daniel's cubby hole, crawled in. Retina was the first to discover, next morning, that the boat, the onlv connecting link between dry land and the Lions Den, had vanished. " My land, you Daniel! she cried ; " here you are sleeping like a log galore and the boat gone ! Get up this minute and see if you cant see her." ... DanieL his orange-hued locks standing out about hi guileless countenance like beams about a mid-day sun. stared 'stupidly at the lake. . " Somebody must of stole it in the night, he said. m " Nonsense ! " snapped Regina. " You forgot to tie it when you got back with all that stuff that nobody told you to buv. You're the stupidest but there! we may need it. after all, if nobody brings that boat back.' At breakfast time it was Daniel's duty to serve. The others were seated at the table when Regina told them about the boat. " Gone ! " gasped Rhea, dismayed, yet with a hopeful ring in her voice. " Why, the last time it drifted off it was davs before the family was finally resaied. "But," demanded Philip, his eyes on Rhea's, "how am I to catch that train? "

Suddenly, like a sun burstins from heavy clouds, & radiance overspread the girl's speaking countenance. " You can't possibly do it." she cried. " And of course if you can't go, you won't have to. I'm I'm glad." I'm well. I'm afraid I'm not as sorry as I should be," admitted Marston, smiling at Rhea. "Since that boat had to break loose. I'm glad it selected such an opportune moment. We'll have at least one more day together." ... .....' "You mean a wee hully gee!' gasped delighted Daniel, pulling himself rp with a jerk. Have a cake. Miss Rhea that top one's your kind." The happiest days, like the happiest nations, are those that have no history. The next two days. owing to a train of happy circumstances over which Daniel had no control, passed without noteworthy incident Rhea and Marston, rigidly chaperoned by Regina, whose bump of propriety seemed abnormally developed, had a great deal to talk about but Daniel heard little of their conversation. It was happiness enough for Daniel to knowthat his unsuspecting charges were contented. The morning of the third day a fierce squall swooped down upon the lake, bringing with it a heavy downpour. Daniel put up the - tarpaulins and the objects of his beneficence stiil conversed in comfort, while their bene- . factor beamed from afar. " I done the right thing," Daniel would murmur at interval. " She wanted a week more of him and she'js gettin' it or she will if this rain keeps up. If sheaint gettin' time to make her mind up it ain't my fault The fourth day was likewise stormy. The fifth, however, was clear and sweet with balsamy odors from distant hillsides. Toward noon, Dicky descried toward the townward end of the lake, smoke from an approachingnaphtha launch. Presently, the, little boat headed straight for the Lions' Den. became audible as well as. visible. As the distance lessened. Dicky whooped with delight; but Rhea and Philip eyed each other sadly, wistfully; Daniel's countenance, too, grew perceptibly longer. " I dtinno," Daniel was thinking, what Mr. Gaylord'll say, ner how I'm comin out. but I'm glad I done it. But I don't know yet if they've had time enough. " Why in the world, demanded Gaylord. when Daniel had ssdly helped the fam:ly aboard. " haven't you folks sent for your mail? 1 found nine uncalled-for letters, besides two telegrams that I sent you myself couldn't get here sooner, had important business. " Toots didn't have smallpox or even measles. Elisabeth was explaining. Dr. Smith f aid the trouble wa caused by f u!ex irritant, or something like that, and was epidemic rather than contagions. That frightened me to death, so I sent for Dr. Bacon. And Rhea I What do you think he said it was? Just plain fleabites 1" " Oh, no ! " murmured Rhea. " Oh ves ! mimicked Gaylord. " I know, because I caught the flea. What's that Regina? The boat gone? The Lions Den cast away? Daniel! "I was thir.kinV said Daniel, appealingly, "that she might have drifted to one of them small islands like she did last time." . . You poor people!" cried Elisabeth; "I hope yon had enough to eat ? " -Nobodv suffered from hunger." murmured Rhea, demurely but with heightened color; "but but, Elisabeth. Philip and I are enajred. " Engaged!" gasped Gaylord. " . ,M " Engaged ! " echoed Elisabeth. " Since when, Td like to know?" ... , t Daniel, too, wished to know, so he waited shamelessly for the reply. "Since about ten minute ago. explained Philip, frankly. We knew that I'd have to go back m the launch, so we settled things in a harry .7 .. .. . Daniel, satisfied, yet withal a little wistful, slipped unnoticed from the chattering group. ' " Well." said he. with a lingering fhr at the two radiant faces. I'm darn glad I done . ( the same.'1

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